About the Author

Lori Palatnik is a writer and Jewish educator who has appeared on television and radio. She is the Founding Director of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project, an international initiative that brings thousands of women to Israel each year from 18 different countries on highly subsidized programs to inspire them with the beauty and wisdom of their heritage (www.jwrp.org). She is a much sought-after international speaker, having lectured in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Central America, South America, South Africa and Israel, including featured talks at Yale, Brown and Penn. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area with her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik, and is the busy mother of five children, ages 25 to 15.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 13

(13)
Liora,
July 20, 2012 3:46 AM

Wow

Dear Lori,
Your video left me in AW.
Thank you!

(12)
smb,
November 26, 2010 1:24 AM

Beautiful, I think that we Jews in general can pretty much trust each other. While there are a few bad apples, most of us are trustworthy, thank G-d
like family

(11)
Nancy,
September 6, 2010 8:45 PM

Love it!

Loved the message Lori has given in this video. Thank G-d the Bernie Madoff's of this world are few and far between.

(10)
dennis richman,
September 3, 2010 7:34 AM

trip

On the trip to Israel can we go to Manilla Mall and to Holon near Tel Aviv and to see the Israeli Knesset ? Those places are places that Lori Palatnik talk about in being Jewish in Israel.

(9)
Mindy Weinstein,
September 1, 2010 5:23 AM

We need to be trustworthy.

We need to be trustworthy in order to be trusted. Let's wear the fact that we're Jewish like a badge of honor that we don't want to tarnish.We need to feel that in our family it would be a shameful thing to be the opposite. What a tremendous impression it would make on the whole world and a wonderful reflection on G-d if we could make it a top priority to live that way.

(8)
Natalie,
August 31, 2010 6:34 PM

I Loved this!!!! Thanks for the positive little stories, keep it up!!!

(7)
Mark,
August 31, 2010 2:51 PM

Your comments made me think of Bernard Madoff but also the six months my wife and I lived in Israel. One bad apple may get a lot of publicity but everyday reality is often something quite different. I am embarassed when I think of some of the things I did in Israel because I was worried that someone was going to rip me off only to discover that that thought had never entered their minds. It was a humbling experience. Great observations.

(6)
Moishe,
August 31, 2010 9:32 AM

Ani Jehudi Song

Dear Lori,
as usual your video teachings are so true!!!
Here is a video and a song by Lenny Solomon
Ani Jehudi, no matter if you are ashkenasi, sephardic, we are all JEWS!!!
A Gut Yohr un May H' inscribe us and sealed us all of us for a good year in the book of life.
Here is the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zw7Kico7Oo&feature=player_embedded

(5)
David,
August 31, 2010 8:44 AM

I'm Jewish - so what?

I am a volunteer policeman in Haifa. I can tell you from first-hand experience that some Jews lie, cheat, steal, and far worse. That includes both religious, non-religious, and all ethinic backgrounds. Maybe, in a lot of ways we are like a family. But families have their black sheep. If you trust people only on the basis that they are Jewish, sooner or later you will get fleeced.

(4)
chana,
August 30, 2010 2:38 PM

I'm Jewish is a great adjective, thank G-d

This set of stories you put together, Lori, are an area I enjoy these years I have lived in Israel. I do not get tired of this, so I loved hearing your own experiences. Thank you! I also enjoy the many people telling me G-d is here and will help and I hear this from every age, every type person. It helps me to see/hear this.

(3)
Anonymous,
August 29, 2010 4:47 PM

Right on

Thank you Lori for reminding us all of this important message. Wherever there are fellow Jews we should feel like we are in company of our own family ...I wish this were more true in the States

(2)
Anonymous,
August 29, 2010 3:09 PM

Jewish on the Job

While at the grocery store, I was checking the dates out on each product I was picking up. The clerk in that area must of been watching me do this and came over and asked if something was wrong, and I told her I was just checking the expiration dates. She got offended and said she checks the dates every day and on and on she went. When she saw me checking the dates she took it as the same as telling her, are you doing your job or not. The examples you gave Lori, reminded me of that clerk. The people in Israel were doing their job likewise, and the added "I'm Jewish" they were doing their "job" attentive of being Jewish in addition. They took being Jewish very seriously otherwise they wouldn't of gotten offended in the least. They set an example, you don't leave your Jewishness at home when you go to work. It goes with you wherever you go.

(1)
Rosen,
August 29, 2010 1:29 PM

defense of Judaism

Reminds me of how when missionaries approach us Jews (among other "non-believers") we generally assert that we are Jewish and must avoid getting deceived into believing that we can believe in Jesus and still be Jewish, even though it is really incompatible, given that Christianity itself is a mistranslation/misinterpretation from the Torah and Jewish texts...At least some Jews would also argue, like Avram Infeld - the president of Hillel International that Judaism is NOT a religion, but indeed, a lifestyle.